Editorial - Stand up and be counted; fill out census

Kay P.
03/25/2010 9:14 PM

bac...I've doodled on the edge, wrote some page numbers on the cover, circled stuff, X-ed out other stuff and already fired off an order. BTW, I like the civil tone that is shining thru...it's nice to talk about other stuff.

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b.a. c.
03/25/2010 4:25 PM

Anyone worn out their seed catalogs yet?

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b.a. c.
03/25/2010 4:24 PM

Ah, Kay, I don't really mind the robins in the garage all that much, just leave the car out unless there's a chance of hail. Last year, she had two broods out there. Tell me, have you ever had to plant marigolds more than once? Seems like once you do, you get volunteers all over the place. Wren houses...think I'm going to put another couple together soon. Found one of those cheap plastic watering cans when I moved in here, and stuck it up on the clothesline pole. Wrens just love that thing. The hole is big enough for the males to get some decent nest stuff in. It's comical to watch them on the other houses trying to get a 3" twig through a 1" hole. They eventually figure it out, though! So far, this seems to be working as a civil place, doesn't it? For a change. (sorry, didn't mean 'change' in that context!)

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Kay P.
03/25/2010 3:38 PM

CAP, I think the topic has been played out...soon to scroll off the bottom of the page. It's really too bad we couldn't have a civil place where politics stays on one thread and the rest is just STUFF. TIP- I plant marigolds liberally around cabbage plants, broccoli, and any other plant that normally attracts those little cabbage white butterflies. They don't like the smell of the flowers, and I don't have to dust them. TIP -- Have trouble with varmits chewing on plants, like deer or rabbits? Make a strong "tea" of crushed red peppers, strain, put a few drops of liquid dish soap, and apply to the plant with a spray bottle. Apply after every rain, and don't forget to wash hands and produce well, before consumption. Oh and to save on spending time on one's hands and knees, consider planting vining type crops by a trellis or fence panels to get them growing upward instead of outward on the ground. Superspace saver. My favorite money saving tip...find folks to divide perennials with or share seeds and bulbs to pass along the fun of having a perpetual garden. I love annuals for their color, but the cost is sometimes prohibitive, so each year I divide a portion of my hosta and trade with someone for portions of their plants to bring in variety and color. I've got a load of them to divide this year...remember, you can dig the entire clump and cut into 4ths, and replant the clump, and it will fill out in no time. Each of the remaining clumps can be carefully divided and potted for local garden club fundraisers or individual gifting/trading. It's time to get growin!

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C A P.
Alexandria, MN     03/25/2010 2:56 PM

Our usually bug-free (for the most part) apple trees were really "bugged" last summer. So, thanks for the tip, Kay. Does anyone else have any other tips? Sorry, in advance to those that consider this to be too "off topic." As noticed, however.....this thread has already strayed several times.

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Kay P.
03/25/2010 12:32 PM

bac...either remove the shelve or render it shelf-less, or accept that someone is going to build back year after year. ;) Black oil sunflower seeds seem to be everyone's favorite, but it took adding a more exotic mix of nuts and dried berries for me to entice my first Cardinal to the feeder. a couple years ago. One of my favorites is still the little housewren. My grandmother had a house in every apple tree in the orchard. She claimed they helped keep the fruit free from bugs. I just think they've got ton's of spunk and I had one build a nest in the breast pocket of some work coveralls hanging on the clothesline. I ended up scrapping the clothing, and left it hanging because I didn't want to disturb the nest. I also had to abandon the clothline for a few weeks while she guarded her babies.

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b.a. c.
03/25/2010 8:32 AM

That's for sure, LM. The first summer I was here, I had Rose Breasted Grossbeaks, and I'd never seen one before. Had to get a bird book. Since then, I've seen more different kinds of birds here than I knew existed in MN. Seems that most of them prefer that black sunflower seed to anything else. Now if I could just get the robins to quit nesting on the shelf in my garage...

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Like-minded extreme right wing lemming. I.
03/24/2010 11:43 PM

b.a. c. - I saw my first Robins of the season in my yard a few days back. There were only around 3 or 4 of them. Scarlet Tanangers are neat to see. Last summer a pair had a nest near my home so I was able to see the male quite often. They are so striking. At first glance you'd think they were tropical. Their song stands out because it's loud and comes from way up in the treetops. You can't miss it once you hear it. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Scarlet_Tanager/sounds --- In the past, I've had up to two male Indigo Buntings at my feeder but never a whole flock. That would be a sight. But I'll be happy if I see only two again this year. The Eastern Bluebirds are back as of yeaterday. I live near open fields and pastures so I do get to see quite a few. A great web site on North American birds is: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search - I have been working on identifying birds in our woods by just their songs and it's been very useful because it includes clear recordings. The bird you are wondering about looked like a Goldfinch but half the size? Could it have been a female Yellow Warbler? Although, I believe they are about the same size as a Goldfinch. That's the fun part...figuring out what bird it is you just saw.

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Jerry H.
03/24/2010 8:23 PM

This is interesting for the main stream media: "A CBS News poll released Wednesday finds that nearly two in three Americans want Republicans in Congress to continue to challenge parts of the health care reform bill." See http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20001117-503544.html

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mike j.
03/24/2010 6:05 PM

If anyone is counting, notice they changed a couple of words. Yep, full health care benefits for all. (Don't believe it? They changed the wording in the bill from "legal resident" to "lawfully residing.")

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